Scott Smith, Republican: "Education is the key to Arizona's future economic prosperity. All of our children deserve an excellent education that prepares them for a career. I have consistently supported higher standards for our children. This is their future. It's why companies like Apple will invest in Arizona.

"As a Conservative, I believe strongly that education is best governed at the local level, far from Washington. Achievement standards should be determined by the states. The curriculum used to meet these standards must be set by the state and local districts, and should be flexible to allow our teachers to adjust their teaching to recognize the unique needs of schools and students. I believe the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards accomplish these objectives, and I support their implementation. We owe every child in Arizona the opportunity to start their careers or higher education ready to succeed."

There is no way that former Mesa Mayor Scott Smith can be ignorant of the controversy surrounding Common Core aka Arizona College & Career Ready Standards. He's betting that the multi-billion dollar advertising campaign that is promoting these destructive standards will win the day. It's just a political gamble on his part. In the meantime, millions of America's children, including those in Arizona, are being treated like laboratory mice in a massive field test called "Common Core." Scott Smith is ruthlessly callous toward Arizona's children.

The last thing Arizona needs is for Scott "Big Spender" Smith as our next governor. Even after being chastised by three "Davids," on December 9, the Goliath Council defiantly voted themselves a massive salary increase.

Mesa's government is growing stronger and more oppressive, while the citizenry is hanging on to full time work.

Peter O’Malley, opposed a bike-share plan that was also approved Dec. 9 but managed during his comments to attack the pay raise as well.

A government-endorsed bike program, O’Malley said, will hurt local businesses and deprive the city of “taxes that support the scandalous, irresponsible, corruption-breeding pay raises you all have your dirty little hands stretched out for.”

Marcus Ray accused council members of seeking to enrich themselves through the pay raises.

“I can’t imagine someone wanting to get into politics for money,” he said. “I mean, that’s the absolute evil right there. Somebody who is just full of greed.”

Gene Dufoe said he represented the Red Mountain Tea Party in opposing the pay hikes.

“We have too much financial problems with the federal government, the state government and we don’t need the city government to add more to this,” he said.